Keeping chickens out of the garden!

[Lori J]

I put up the garden fence and it kept my old chickens out. Back in June I got Easter Eggars and when they got bigger they started flying over the fence just before the fall. I wasn’t too worried because there wasn’t much left that they could mess with. I figured they would stop doing it because there wouldn’t be anything tasty over the winter - hopefully they would forget!! But all winter they have been jumping the fence and eating anything during the winter such as parsley, garlic and cabbage. What should I do now that spring is Only a couple months away? Can’t I have chickens and a garden?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Chicken wire is good for keeping out the girls. You need a taller fence! Mine is 5' tall with an electric wire around the top, technically making it about 5.5'.

 

[Lori J]

Chicken wire is good for keeping out the girls. You need a taller fence! Mine is 5' tall with an electric wire around the top, technically making it about 5.5'.

I wonder if an electric wire over the small one would keep them out? It would be cheaper not to have to buy both.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I wonder if an electric wire over the small one would keep them out? It would be cheaper not to have to buy both.

Well, in terms of shocking them, it probably wouldn't. You could get maybe a 3' poultry fence and wrap in around the top of what you already have? Are your existing posts tall enough?

 

[Aapomp831]

Clip their wings. Simple and effective.

 

[aart]

You could get maybe a 3' poultry fence and wrap in around the top of what you already have? Are your existing posts tall enough?

Ditto Dat!

Make the top floppy if you can, so they can land on it to go over.

 

[Lori J]

Well, in terms of shocking them, it probably wouldn't. You could get maybe a 3' poultry fence and wrap in around the top of what you already have? Are your existing posts tall enough?

No the posts are about the same height as the fence you see in the picture

 

[rosemarythyme]

Taller posts, then a taller fence with a floppier top. If they can't land it makes it harder for them to get over.

Worst case scenario, bird netting does work to keep them out, but the trick is elevating it over taller plants. I've used tomato cages to elevate netting a bit.